After capturing top prizes in grand prix events throughout the spring and summer at the Kentucky Horse Shows, New Zealand's Sharn Wordley earned the $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus during the 2017 Hagyard Challenge Series.

The Hagyard Challenge series consists of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2017 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. The series concluded with the $65,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky National Horse Show. Following that exciting competition, Wordley was announced as the winner of the $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus and presented with the cash prize by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry. Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse.

Wordley now calls Lexington his home for part of the year, and being able to win in the horse capital of the world made the victory for him that much sweeter. "Obviously, I feel fantastic," he expressed. "Being handed a check for $50,000 is always good. It's a great series and I'm from Lexington now. It's great to be able to have some real purpose for showing in Lexington. For us this is a fantastic incentive to stay around. My neighbor is Dr. Kevin Pfiester, DVM at Hagyard and he is a good friend of ours. He got to hand us the check so that made it even better."

Wordley was the only rider in the series to take on all seven of the events in this year's Hagyard Challenge Series at the scenic Kentucky Horse Park, which culminated with the Kentucky National Horse Show. He rode five different mounts which contributed to the rider bonus.

"This was the first time that I've really focused on [the Hagyard Challenge Series]. I had enough horses that I could still do all the international stuff and have horses fresh for the Hagyard Challenge Series, as well. We have to do enough FEI [competitions] to keep our world ranking up, but I was lucky enough to have enough horses that I could mix them around a little bit," Wordley stated.

Topping the charts just behind Wordley was David Beisel coming in second place, while Amanda Derbyshire earned the third spot in the rankings.

The 2017 Hagyard Challenge Series would like to thank its title sponsor, MWI Animal Health, and its presenting sponsor, Zoetis, as well as Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC, Audi of Lexington, Pike & Preston, Sallee Horse Vans, Central Kentucky Ag Credit and Hagyard Pharmacy who helped make the thrilling series happen once again.